Improved brick-press



J. N. SMITH. BRICK PRESS.

No. 103,381. Patented May 24, 1870.

li/Maz? f we Nmzms Firms co., Pnorqumo.. wAsmNaroN. n. c.

liintetl Watts @tutti @emite J. NOTTINGHAM SMITH, OF JERSEY CITY,.NEW.JERSEY.'

Letters Patent No.-103,381, dated Muy 24, 1870.

IMPRQVED Barbera-PRESS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making partv of the same.

To all whomt't may concern V'tained in them has become in some degree separated from the clay, occupying small cells or interstices between the particles or shrunken portions of the clay, from which it may in a considerable degree be pressed out. My machine is designed to produce bricks somewhat similar to those known as the Philzulelphia pressed or front .briek/7 though they are much more uniform in density than the latter, and are of more even thickness.v

The object of my invention is to perfect and improve a certain brick-machine for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me on or about the 12th day of March, 1867. The main mechanical features ofthe said patented inventionconsisting of the annular wedge, driven by a pinion on a horizontal shaft which ineshesinto teeth on the under side of the said annular wedge; the lower die-plate, supported on a post or plunger which bears upon the inclined upper surface ofthe said annular wedge; the mold or surrounding die, which is raised and lowered in conjunction with the said lower die by projecting shoulders orilauges on the outer surface of the main part of the annular wedge, which shoulders or auges constitute, with the under surface nof the main wedge,

'a'second wedge or circuit of wedges; a stationary upper die, and a suitable frame-are all retained. The

carrier which carries the said mold or'surrouiulng die is also extended Vlaterally at the top, to form a table on which the bricks arefed to and received from the machine.

' My present invention consists- First, in the combination with the said series of rollers,- on which the said annular wedge rests, ot' a hoop placed conceutrically with the track on which `they are to travel, and furnished with projecting pins or spindles, on which said rollers are hung, ywhereby the said rollers are kept in place.

Second, in supporting the plunger or die-post which carries the lower die-of the said press upon a compound friction-roller bearing, consisting of 4a 'series of roll- .ers traveling an endless circuit in a channel formed in the body ofthe said die-post, against which rollers the wheeler roller-in Lthe foot of the said die-post bears. i

Third, in the, combination with the said dies of a carriage or stripper for delivering the bricks to andremoving them ti'om the said dies, the said stripper being operated by the` annular wedge by or through suitable devices connecting the said stripper to a roller or pill attached to and projecting from thc annular wedge.

'Fonrth,'in the combination with the said stripper' and dies of auxiliary carriers, which are operated through suitable devices bya bell-crank or bent lever, which is pnt in motion by the rise and fall ofthe surrounding die, the said auxiliary carriers serving to remove the pressed brick from the stripper, and also to insure the accurate delivery ofthe unpressed brick thereto.

Fifth, in the combination with the said dies of an oiler or frame containing one or more oiling-wieks, and attached to the said stripper, the said oiler being carried between the upper and lower dies, with its wick or wicks in contact with the said dies at each lateral movement of the stripper.

Sixth, in the combination with the said oiler, stripper, and dies of oil-tanks or reservoirs attached tothe frame of the machine, in such a position/that the wicks ot' the said oiler shall be put in contact with the snpply wicks inserted through the bottoms of said tanks, at each upward motion of the lower die'and surroundillg die, whereby the wicks in the oiler are kept fully supplied with oil.

Seventh, in the combination with the said tanks ot' a series of independent feed openings, through which the oil` is fed to the wicks, the said openings heilig closed with adjustable Stoppers, whereby the amount of oil fed to any part ot' the said wicks is fully under cont-rol.

' Eighth, in combination with the upper die and giri. R ofthe spring hearing C', which yields only when undue pressure is brought to bear upon it, thus saving the machine from breakage.

Ninth, in the combination with the surrounding die, the lower die and its die-post, and the li'ame or guide on which the surrounding die rests, of bolts which, by means of adjusting nuts thereon, determine the height to which the surrounding die shall rise, thereby regulating the size of the opening through which the surplus material escapes. i

Iu the accompanying drawingsef- -Figure l is a plan ot' a brick-press which embodies my invention.y y

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the salue.

Figure 3'is a side elevation of the same, the lefthand portion being shown in section on a vertical plane passing through the center. y

Figure 4 is a vertical central section 'of the righthand'portion of the said machine, taken on t-he line y y, 1-

Figure 5 is a top view, in detail, of thel mold 0r surrounding die which is used in the. said machine.

liigure Gis a central longitudinal section of the oiler and ii'ame used in the said machine.

The annular wedge A is inclosed in a light hoopor box, B.

In the-bottom C, of the hoopB the bearings for the shaft D arc formed. This bottom piece G is annular in form, flat ou its upper surface, andis securedito the hoop B by the bolts E E'at one side, and by small bolts passing throughl suitable lugs formed on the said hoop and bottom, at the other side.

Upon the flat upper surface of this bottom ring' is placed a series of rollers,-G, which are kept in place hy a ring, F.

lfrom the ring F pins or spindles a. project, passing loosely through holes in the rollers, keeping them at 'the proper distance apart, and preventing their runningr Itoo much toward the center.

The rollers are keptl from running off from the said pins by a flange or ring, H, which encircles the track ou which-the said rollers are to run, and is secured in place by any suitable means, as by being tted snugly against the inner surface of the hoop B.

Upon the series of rollers G the annular wedge A rests and revolves, motion being ilnparted to it by the drivingshaft D, on which is a beveled pinion, I, which meshes into corresponding` teeth J on the. under snrface of the annular wedge A. lhe weight of the annular wedge A and its downward pressure, occasioned by the resistance of the brick to compression, are all borne by the series of rollers G, and tlms the friction is much reduced.

The driving-shaft is driven hy the pinionK, which meshes into the wheel L on the said shaft.

The pinion K'is keyed to the hub of a tiy-wheel, M, which turns on a spindle, N. The spindle is fastcned to the hoop B.

Any suitable device for imparting motion to the iiywheel M and pinion K may he attached to the hub of the {1y-wheel at b.

A pawl, O, secu-redt() the hoop B, takes into the teeth l, and prevents the shaft of the machine 1) from being turned backward.

The annular wedge A has the necessary abruptiiftingr inelines c c, gradual upward inclines ll d,- abruptly dcscending inclines e c, and level portions ff, for operating the lower die; and the abrupt lifting inclines r/ y, gradual upward inclines h h, ahruptly descending inclines i i, and dead spaces jj, for operating themold or surrouiuling die, twice at each revolution of the said wedge A. The relative positions and lengths of these various port-ions inthe length of the wedge is clearly indicated in dotted lines in fig. 1, and is also shown y in figs. 3 and 4.

`It will he observed that the gradual upward inclincs hl and d lie in the same plane, and form one continuous inclined surface.

` The hoop B ,has a circular central opening in its top, in which is fitted a true circular facing, P, against which the centering rollers k and dog l, secured to the top of the wedge A, hear, and thus keep the wedge A properly centered while it revolves.

The bolts E pass through the bottom ring C at the front of the machine, 'the said ring U being enlarged at thatpoint to form the resisting or supporting sill Q, which receives and sustains the downward thrust occasioned by thc pressing of the bricks. The bolts E also pass through a recess or enlarged portion, on, ot' the hoop B, holding the ring C and hoop B together between the flanges or beads n and nuts o, and at the top pass through and sustain thc upper resist-v ing girt 1t, by means of the nuts 1) p and q q. Between these bolts E, and guided by bearings b2, which partly embrace and slide up and down on the said bolts, are the lo'wer die S and the surrounding die or mold T. The lower die is secured to the to'p of the die-post U, which is made in two `parts and holted'together. In the inner faces of these two parts a channel, r, is formed for a series of rollers, s, which travel an endless circuit therein.

g Bearing against these rollers, and supporting'the weight and pressure of the said lower die, is a large roller, V, which stands or rolls upon the surface e d e fof the wedge A. l

A curved bearing, t, is let into the sidesiof the post U, to furnish a bearing or track for the rollers s and receive and resist their pressure.

Byt-his arrangement of parts it will be secu that the friction is very much reduced. The die-post U is held in an upright position and prevented from turning by the rectangular forni ofthe die S fitting in the surrounding die T, and by the guide-piece W, which' is itself guided by the table Y, in which the surrounding die T is set, or to which it is attached.

The table Y is guided by the guide-pieces 1P, which slide u p and down on the bolts E.

The surrounding die T is att-ached to the under side of the table Y, by means of the end pieces o, which are cast in one piece with the said table, and cxtenddownward at right angles with the under side thereof.

To these end pieces u, strong,l thick side pieces, w, v

are secured by bolts c. The inner faces of these sides w are planed or ground to a true plane, and serve as the side faces of the surrounding die.

The end faces are formed of two thinner plates, x, which have' their inner faces planed or ground to a true plane, and their ends finished parallel and per-l pendicular to their faces. rlhe length of these end plates is equal -to the width of a brick, and, being placed betweenthe' side pieces w, as .seen in fig. 5, and the bolts o, tightened, they hold the side pieces at the proper distance apart, and are themselves partly y held in place by the said side pieces.

Vedges zare driven in between the end pieces uy and the plates x to hold them in place, and prevent their spreading apart. g

' It is plain that theA dieaces thuscformed may be taken apart, and their inner surfaces or faces only ground, when worn, and then be restored to their 'original and proper form and position with very little trouble and expense, and without enlarging the die.

The inner lower corners of the face-plates w and a; are cut away, at an angle as seen at ai, in iig. 4, whereby a narrow opening is left between t-he lower 'die and the surrounding die, through which any surplus of water or other material contained in the brick may escape while the brick is being pressed, and the bricks may thus be brought to a uniform thickness. As the surrounding die passes downward, after the brick i`s pressed, it cuts olf any feather or project-ion left on the brick byreason of this opening, and thus leaves the corners of the brick sharp and true.

The table Y, with the die T and the other devices attached to it, israised and lowered by the wedge formed by the flanges 71., g,and t', operating on the rollers c', which are attached to the descending portion c' of4 the guide W.

A The portion e of the guide W has wings j" upon it, which slide in grooves h. in the casing B, to guide the guide XV.

The rollers c raise and lower the guide NV, and with it the table Y, through 'or by means of the bolts d, which are fastened 4in the end pieces n, and are also secured to the guide W by nuts.

These nuts on the/bolts dfurnish a-means for reg ulating the height to which the die T shall rise, thus controlling the siz'e of the opening at a, while the lower ends ot' the bolts dl, striking the blocks d2, stop always at the same height, and the bricks may be stripped off without injury.

The upper die A' is fastened to a box B', which is securedto t-he upper girt It by bolts al, passing loosely through wings or lugs la' on said box, and entering tbe girt R.

,A spring, G', is interposed between the said box and the girt R, which allows the said box andthe die A' to yield when under pressure, is applied thereto, and thus prevent the'breaking of the machine.

D' is the stripperor carriage which delivers the unpressed brick to the dies, and removesthe brick u. which has been pressed.

which projects upward through the facing P, suficiently high to come in Contact with a-nd move'the 1 swing pieces F', as the said wedge A revolves.A

The pieces F are linked together by the 'connecting-bar G', and thus always move together'.

From one of these pieces F'a post or stud, H', projects upward, and carries a spring-arm, I', which clasps a pin, J', inserted in the under side of a projecting portion, la', of the carriage or stripper D. The stripper is thus moved once to the right and once to the left at each revolution of the wedge A, and, consequently,

removes and feedsin the bricks as fastas they can be operated upon by the dies. y

The. unpressed bricks are fed to the stripperD' by hand, and the pressed bricks are removed from the stripper by the auxiliary carriers K'.

These carriers are operated by the rise and fall of the table, through or by means of the yoke L', and a bent lever or bell-crank, M', pivoted at I', and actuated by the rod N', which is secured yto the guide XV, and thus rises and falls with it.

It will be seen that, by the upward motion oft he dies, the carriers K' are moved so as to f carry the pressed. brick, which has -been delivered to one j of them by the stripper D', outto the end nl.' of the ta. ble, and, by the downward motion of thc dies, the said carriers are moved back, carrying with them, and pressing snugly up against the flange n' of the stripper, the impressed brick, which has been left by the attendant within the arms of thc stripper. A

As the carriers K' move out, they strike a cani, o', which is hung loosely on a pimp', in the table Y, its upper surface projecting slightly above the table.

This cam o' is so formed that it will. revolve sui'- iiciently to quickly lift the carrier, as it advances, a little higher than the inclined ways q', when the projection on the cam strikes the under side of thc table, and prevents the further turning of the cam, while the carrier continues ou to the end of its motion. On the return of' the carrier, the cam runs back and quickly lowers it, thus leaving the brick on the ways 'lhevmiddle arm E' of the stripper D' is formed into a box or frame, open at the top and bottom, in which a clamp or wick-holder, lr', is placed, and supported ou springs s'. v

The height of this wick-holder may be adjusted within certain limits, by means of the bolts. t', which pass through its ends, and are screwed into the frame E'. v

A 'at wick, a', is -fitted into the wick-holder, its upper and lower edges projecting sufficiently to sweep across the faces of the dies S and A', as the stripper D' passes between the said dies.

The upper corners of the wick-holder r' are rounded olii, in 'order that itV may yield downward, and pass the die A without breaking, it' it .should come in contact with the corncr'oi the said die.

Oil, for lubricating the 'said dies, is supplied to the wick a' from boxes or tanks P', which are cast wit-h or secured tothe box 'B'.

In the bottoms of each of the tanks P' a line of holes is made, and wicks v' placed therein.

- The amount of oil which is fed out to thc wick v' is regulated by adjustable plugs Q', which pass through the covers of the tanks, and are raised and lowered by nuts on their upper ends, bearing against the tops of the said covers. These holes arc so placed that the wick 'n' comesin contact with one line of the wicks 'u' each timeit rises, and thus receives a supply of oil. As each of the plugs Q' is independent of all the others, thc amount of oil fed to any part of the desmay be regulated -by raising or llowering the proper plugs.

'lhe operation oi' the machine is as follows:

The niachine being in motion, and the table Y descending, a brick is placed by the attendant near the ila-ngc n', and between the middle arm E' ot the stripper andthe arm y', which is farthest from the dies. Asthe table Y approaches its lowest point, one of the carriers K' carries'tbc brick snugly against the flange n', thus bringiug'it exactly in line with the dies. The stripper then moves 'across the table, earying the brick with it, and depositing it exactly over the lower die S. 'lhedies'S and '.l are now raised,

. the vformer by the incline c, on the annular wedge A,

and the latter by the incline g, 4and the brick brought Y ,up to the die A'. At this point the upper corner ot' the die S is a little` below the upper corner of the bevel ai, leaving a slight opening. Thel inclins d and 7L next raise the 'dies S fand l together, and at .I the same speed,prcssing the brick against the die A',

the surplus material escaping at and the spring G' yielding, it' thc pressure is too great At the same time thc wick u' comes in contact with the wick'r, f

and receives-a supply of oil. lhe brick having thus belen-pressed, the `-inclines e and-i canse the dies S and '1" to descend to their lowest positions. The dog l, nowcomes in contact with the swing piccoli", and moves the stripper D' to the other sidc'of the table,

carrying the pressed brick with it, and depositing it upon one of the carriers K','\vhilc at the same time .an unpressed brickywhich has been placed in the other side of the-,stripper D', is brought to the dies. As the stripper moves across the table, the wick Iu oils the faces of thc dies S and '.l. 'ljhe table Y and dies S and l again rising, the pressed brick is carried by the carrier Ii', and deposited on the ways q', from which it is removed by an attendant.

"lhc operation, as thus described, is repeated iu tbc pressing of .each brick, the machine being designed to press' one brick cach time theta-ble rises, or two bricks by each revolution of the annular wedge A.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claiml .l-. The ring F, having pins orspndles a, attached to and projecting from it, the rollers G, and wedge -A,

combined and arranged substantially as set fort-h.

2. The combination, with-thc die-post U and an- 'nular wedge A, ofthe roller V and' rollers s, forming 'a compound friction-roller bearing, lsnl'vs-tantially as speced. v

3. The stripper D', constructed and operated as described, in combination with the dies and the annular wedge A, substantially as setforth.

4. 'lhe combination, with the dies and the said stripper D', ofthe auxiliary carriers K', constructed and operated substantially as specified.

5. '.lhe oiler E', combined with the stripper D and dies, substantially as hereinabove specitied.

l. Thetanks I", combined with the oiler E', stripper D', and dies, subtantially as hereinabove set forth.

7. ,The independent feedfopenings, combined with the tanks P', plugs Q', and wicks v', substantially as hereinabovev specified.

8. llxe `sp1ing C', combined with the die Aand gilt R,.n"such a. manner that the said spring receives and Sustni'ns the whole pressure applied to thel d ie A', yielding lonly to prevent: the breaking of the machine, substantially as set forth. Y

9. The combination, with the die '.1, die-post U, and

guide W, of the bolts d', and the adjusting-nuts thereon, v wherebyktlie size of the openingfais increased or diminished, substantially'as vhereinabove set forth.

J.' LNOCLVTINGHAM SMITH.

Witnesses:

HENRYB. GEER, y H. J AMES WESTON.' 

